Thanksgiving grease is notorious for causing slippery situations in local sewer systems.

Grease can cause the same problems in municipal sewer systems as in human arteries. The goop sticks to the inside of sewer pipes, leads to blockages and, maybe, expensive cleanups.

So, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks joined Seattle-based General Biodiesel to offer residents with a safe way to toss cooking oil and grease. The material is then recycled, and does not end up in drains or landfills.

Officials recommend putting cooled cooking fats and grease into a sealed container for transport to the drop-off locations. Then, slowly pour the grease into the collection container to avoid splatters. Close the community lid tank and take containers home.

Thanksgiving ranks at No. 2 in King County for the holiday with the most arrests for motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Washington State Patrol troopers urged revelers not to turn celebration into stress by driving under the influence Thursday, Thanksgiving, and throughout the holiday season.

“At the end of the day, targeting behavior that kills and injures is truly what matters,” state patrol Capt. Chris Gundermann, District 2 commander, said in a statement.

In 2011, troopers in King County made 22 arrests for DUI on Thanksgiving. The number puts the holiday second only to New Year’s Day for the number of DUI arrests on a holiday. The arrests last Thanksgiving included four collisions without injuries and a minor collision with injuries.

The day after Thanksgiving, long before the sun rises, open season for bargains starts at retailers throughout Issaquah and beyond.

Black Friday sends shoppers pinging from store to store like a pinball in search of deals — a 32-inch LCD television for $147 at Target, perhaps, or a Blu-ray player for $39.99 at Best Buy. Consumers brave predawn darkness, long lines and sharp elbows to score early-bird bargains.

The boost to retailers’ bottom lines could also offer a jolt to city coffers. Popular Black Friday destinations — including Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Fred Meyer, Target and, of course, Issaquah-based Costco — lure consumers from throughout the region.

Issaquah is a retail hub on the Eastside, and city officials hope the holiday rush resuscitates a flat year for spending. Overall, sales tax revenue forms a key piece in the city budget — a larger share than property tax revenue and permit fees, other main sources of dollars.

In a decade-old Thanksgiving tradition, Eastridge Church delivered 1,000 turkeys and bags of groceries to families in need Nov. 17.

The church distributed dinner packages on a first-come, first-served basis, and no demonstration of need was required for assistance.

“The Thanksgiving season is a time to we all naturally reflect on our lives and the good things that we’re experiencing, but it can also be a difficult time for families with limited resources,” Lead Pastor Steve Jamison said in a statement.

Church leaders held the event simultaneously at its Sammamish Plateau and West Seattle campuses.

“We want to show our community that Eastridge cares by providing a blessing this Thanksgiving to those who may be struggling to make ends meet,” Jamison continued.

King County Metro Transit bus riders should prepare for reduced service in upcoming weeks.

The transit agency operates on a reduced weekday schedule on several holidays through January — including a full week of reduced service at the end of December. Thanksgiving and the day after the holiday include reduced bus service.

The planned reductions arrive during a slow period, as Metro Transit experiences a reduction in weekday riders — estimated to reach 15 percent or more systemwide.

Expect a soggy Thanksgiving and a side of rain on the day before the holiday, as a series of systems batters Western Washington.

The weather comes as rain-soaked Pacific systems barrel across the region in quick succession. National Weather Service meteorologists in Seattle said strong fronts should affect Western Washington, and increase the risk of flooding on streets.